Music News: Nabil Ayers on Ed Eckstine, Blackout Tuesday, and hopes for change June 17, 2020 Nabil Ayers is the U.S. general manager for the record label 4AD. He's also a musician and a writer, and recently in the New York Times, he had an interview with Ed Eckstine, who was the first black person to be appointed head of a major label in the U.S. He talked about that conversation, and about all the conversations happening in the music industry around Blackout Tuesday.
Music News: From the Grammys to 'Lady A,' music industry changes its language June 16, 2020 In the wake of Blackout Tuesday, will real change come to the music world? The Grammys are changing their use of the word 'urban' and the band formerly known as Lady Antebellum are now 'Lady A,' while BMG is looking at its historic contracts to root out inequities.
Music News: Epidemiologists uneasy about concert safety for another full year June 11, 2020 Most epidemiologists say that at this point, they won't feel comfortable attending a concert for over a year. Even as the United States start to reopen from coronavirus lockdown, the financial crisis for the concert industry is deepening, with a potentially devastating round of permanent venue closures looming.
Music News: Artists respond to George Floyd's killing with new and renewed songs of protest June 9, 2020 As protests of a scale not seen in decades spread around the world in the wake of George Floyd's killing, musicians released both new songs and songs of continuing relevance.
Music News: Will 'Blackout Tuesday' lead to meaningful industry change? June 4, 2020 'Blackout Tuesday' was a very visible music industry statement that spread across social media, but artists and fans are wondering whether the industry can go beyond a statement to truly change structures that have historically disempowered black artists.
Music News: Minnesota music community shows up, helps out, calls for change June 2, 2020 After a week of protest and pain in the Twin Cities after the death of George Floyd, Jay and Jade look at the Minnesota music scene and its calls for institutional change.
Music News: Artists across America share hurt and anger over death of George Floyd May 28, 2020 Hurt and anger over the death of George Floyd in police custody have spread from Minneapolis around the world. Artists are sharing grief and calls for action in memory of a man who came to the Twin Cities from Houston, where he was a member of the hip-hop scene.
Music News: An IPO in a pandemic? Streaming boom makes money...for investors May 27, 2020 A planned IPO for Warner Music is evidence of a streaming-fueled rebound for the recording industry. Meanwhile, Laura Marling's livestreams suggest that rarity, rather than ubiquity, could be the key to some artists' income right now. Also today: Black Dresses break up after online harassment, steel guitarist Bucky Baxter dies, and Billie Eilish releases film slamming body-shaming.
Music News: Jimmy Cobb, drummer on Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue,' dies at 91 May 26, 2020 Jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb and Pretty Things singer Phil May have died, at 91 and 75 respectively. Also in the news today: Poland censors a number one hit, a Kate Nash documentary comes to North America, and Michael Jordan rocks out to...well, everything.
Music News: Ready or not, live concerts are starting to come back May 22, 2020 Music fans have been longing for the return of live concerts - and now they're back, but with the coronavirus pandemic still raging, artists and audiences are searching for ways to be together while not being TOO close together.